Ronda Rousey puts Triple H through table as plans for WrestleMania become clearer

play

Rousey gets confrontational with Triple H, McMahon (0:38)

Tensions rise between Ronda Rousey, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WWE Elimination Chamber, which leads to Rousey slamming Triple H through a table and McMahon retaliating by slapping Rousey in the face. (0:38)

The one thing you know about a contract signing in WWE is that if there's a table set up in the ring, it's almost certain somebody's going to go through it. It's the easiest way to put an exclamation point on a moment, and six weeks out from WrestleMania 34, Ronda Rousey made her intentions for the biggest show on the WWE calendar crystal clear.

Before Raw general manager Kurt Angle could utter a single word to set up the festivities, however, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon charged out to take over the spotlight and set the stage for Rousey's official contract signing.

"I can't recall an athlete like this walking through the doors of WWE since the Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle," said Triple H, in his first televised appearance since attacking then-teammate Angle at Survivor Series. "She has earned the right to be called the baddest woman on the planet."

Editor's Picks

Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" hit, and in the beginning Rousey's signing was all about niceties -- handshakes for Triple H and McMahon, and a hug for Angle.

McMahon was even deferential. "These people don't want to hear from me -- they want to hear from you."

Rousey seemed a bit quiet and overwhelmed as she uttered her first words on WWE TV, but immediately gave credit to others. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my hero, Rowdy Roddy Piper," Rousey said.

It was a bit of a rough go in the early stages, and an impatient Las Vegas crowd did her no favors, but the four performers in the ring pushed through. Each hammered home that there were no special perks to come for Rousey, and made it clear that she would not be competing in a championship match at WrestleMania -- but she would be competing.

As the signing seemed to be winding down toward a rather peaceful end, Angle finally spoke up.

"They want to put their thumb on you and keep you down," Angle said. After no retribution or explanation post-Survivor Series, Angle was set on getting some measure of revenge on Triple H.

"Didn't you say earlier, 'Three years in the making and now we own the b----?,'" Angle said, referring to WrestleMania 31, when Rousey and The Rock got the better of Triple H and Stephanie at Levi's Stadium. Triple H tried to escort Angle backstage, and McMahon tried to walk it all back, but from the moment a scowl crossed Rousey's face, business began to pick up.

ESPN Senior Writer

Ronda Rousey just put Triple H through a table. That was awesome.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer566d ago

Angle had one more quip to add. "Didn't you say Ronda was a has-been?"

Ronda went face-to-face with Steph, only for Triple H to step in the middle of it all. Just as had happened at WrestleMania 31, though, a face-to-face between Triple H and Rousey didn't end well for the former.

Rousey put Triple H through the table with a belly-to-belly, which brought McMahon back into the ring to deliver a slap across the face to Rousey. McMahon quickly realized what she had done, but it was too late. Rousey reached over the fallen Triple H, picked up the contract, signed it, and Rousey's road to WrestleMania officially became clearer.

Whether WWE is able to bring The Rock back for New Orleans, or Angle ultimately ends up as Rousey's partner at WrestleMania 34, the match that will grab the most mainstream headlines is set.